Tube closure valve



May 1, 34- 0. B. STAUFFER TUBE CLOSURE VALVE Filed March 4, 1932 iatented May 1, 193 1 TUBE CLOSURE VALVE Orton B. Stauffer, Berea, Ohio1932, Serial No. 596,858

Application March 4,

8 Claims.

In accordance with the provisions of what has heretofore been consideredthe usual practice, collapsible tubes are provided with a removable capadapted to be threaded over the nipple forming the outlet for materialcontained in the tube. These separable caps are often the source ofconsiderable inconvenience through the tendency thereof to become lostor mislaid while the tube contents are being used, and also because ofaccidental deformation of the caps through dropping the same, so thatthere is a rather substantial likelihood of accidental deformation ofthese caps so that they can no longer readily be inserted upon orremoved from the tube.

The present invention is designed to supply a means for eliminating theuse of such removable caps, and provides a closure member or valvefixedly secured in position so as to control the outlet passage throughthe nipple. By making this valve inseparably mounted in the tubeconstruction, all inconvenience resulting from loss of the closuremember for the tube is eliminated, and there is provided, through a verysimple construction, a device which is always in place and which willserve to eifectively retain the contents of the tube, preventing anyfurther discharge of the tube when the desired supply of material isdischarged therefrom. It may be mentioned in passing that in the type oftube provided with the screw cap closure, it is sometimes dii'licult tostop the contents of the tube from continuing to ooze through thedischarge opening, especially when the contents are of a semi-liquidconsistency.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in

which Figure 1 shows a side view of a collapsible tube provided with theimproved closure valve.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the discharge end of the tube showing theprovision of securing and sealing means for the closure valve and outletof the tube, whereby a purchaser of the tube may know by inspection thatthe tube is in good condition, with its contents fully protected untilready to be used.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the nipple of the tube, showingcertain details of the closure valve, the view being taken on the line33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional View along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and showingfurther details of the construction of the closure valve.

Figure 5 is an end view, showing in dotted lines the position of theclosure valve, the securing arm being omitted.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the discharge end of thetube, showing certain other details of the closure valve, the operatinghandle being broken off, the View being taken along the line 66 ofFigure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a retaining collar employed inconnection with the closure valve.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a collapsible tube isindicated generally at A, and is provided with the discharge nipple B,in accordance with the usual practice, which has extending therethroughthe passage 1 to allow the escape of the contents of the tube asdesired. In this passage is located the closure valve of the presentinvention, and is shown as being formed of the valve body 2 providedwith an opening 3, which is adapted to register with the passage 1 ofthe nipple B, it being understood that the nippie B is suitably recessedfor the admission of the body 2, which snugly, but turnably, fitstherein. Secured to the body 2 is an operating handle 4, which may bemade integral with the body 2 or secured removably therewith in anydesired manner. To secure the body 2 in position there is provided theretaining collar or washer 5 which is provided with the open slot 6 toreceive a stem 7 on the operating handle 4. The collar or washer 5 isremovably secured in position by pressing around it the walls of theopening 8 in which the body 2 is received, thus causing the sides of theslot 6 to firmly grip the stem '7 in the handle 4. The grippingengagement between the walls of the aperture and the periphery of thewasher firmly secures the washer in place and effectively preventsdisplacement of the valve body 2 on its seat in the recess 8.

To safeguard the handle 4 from accidental movement and to serve as aprotection to the consumer, there may be provided a frangible securingelement or arm 9 so arranged that the handle 4 cannot be turned withoutbreaking the securing element. The discharge aperture 1 may also beprovided with a frangible sealing member 10 so that the contents of thetube may be doubly protected, as they cannot be discharged withoutbreaking both elements 9 and 10.

The operating handle 4 is desirably positioned so that the wings thereofwill engage the shoulder 11 of the tube in such a manner that when thebore 3 is in full registry with the passage 1, the handle 4 will be inengagement with the shoulder 11 in full open position and cannot befurther turned in the same direction; and similarly when the bore 3 isbrought fully out of registry with the discharge passage 1, the otherside of the handle 4 will engage the shoulder 11, so that the outletwill be completely closed and there is no possibility of overturning thevalve body 2 in either direction of its operation.

To improve the appearance of the article, the handle 4 may be made inany suitable color, as desired.

It will be seen that a quarter turn of the handle 4 in the direction ofthe arrow in Figure 3 ioo will serve to bring the bore 3 into exactregistry with the passage 1, and the handle will be in engagement withthe shoulder 11. A suitable turn in the reverse direction brings thevalve into closed position as shown in Figure 3. To assure properbreakage of the frangible arm 9 it may be provided with a suitabledividing line 9a along which the fracture will occur when the handle 9is turned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A device of the character described, comprising a discharge memberprovided with a passageway for the discharge of materials therethrough,and provided with a valve receiving recess, a valve unit mounted in therecess comprising a body member having a bore extending therethroughand. an operating handle for turning the body in the said recess, and aretaining collar fixedly mounted in said recess and gripping the saidunit to prevent displacement of the body from the recess while allowingfree turning ther of to bring the said bore into and out of registrywith the discharge passageway for controlling the discharge of materialsthrough the said passageway.

2. A collapsible tube provided with a discharge nipple having apassageway therethrough for discharge of materials contained in thetube, and

a closure valve mounted in the said passageway for opening and closingthe same and comprising a valve body seated within the nipple andadapted to freely turn therein, the said body having a bore extendingtherethrough adapted to be brought into and out of registry with thedischarge passageway through the nipple, an operating handle for thebody member, and a retaining collar inseparably secured in the nippleagainst the said valve body member, to prevent accidental displacementof the latter from its seated position in the nipple.

3. A construction of the character described, comprising a collapsibletube having a discharge nipple and defining a shoulder therewith in theupper zone, the said nipple being provided with a discharge passagewaytherethrough, and a closure valve for the passageway located within thenipple, comprising a valve body having a bore extending therethroughadapted to be brought into and out of registry with the passagewaythrough the nipple, an actuating handle for the body member beingprovided with means adapted to engage with the said shoulder of the tubearound the nipple to prevent over-passage of the bore relatively to thepassageway through the nipple to assure proper engagement anddisengagement between the bore and passageway for opening and closingthe tube, and means interposed intermediate the valve body and thesurface of the discharge nipple seciu'ing the body member againstaccidental displacement in the nipple.

4. A construction of the character described comprising a collapsibletube provided with a nipple having a discharge passageway therethrough,a closure valve positioned in the nipple and comprising a valve bodymember having a bore therethrough adapted to be brought into and out ofregistry with the discharge passageway through the nipple, operatingmeans for turning the valve body member for controlling the dischargepassageway, and a frangible securing member connected with the operatingmeans to prevent turning thereof prior to the initial use of theconstruction in any direction.

5. A construction of the character described, comprising a collapsibletube provided with a nipple having a discharge passageway therethrough,a closure valve positioned in the nipple and comprising a valve bodymember having a bore therethrough adapted to be brought into and out ofregistry with the discharge passageway through the nipple, operatingmeans for turning the valve body member for controlling the dischargepassageway, a frangible securing arm formed as a part of the operatingmeans for turning the valve body member acting as a guard throughengagement with the collapsible tube to prevent turning of the valvebody member prior to the initial use of the construction, and afrangible sealing member positioned in the discharge passageway of thenipple.

6. A closure valve construction for collapsible tubes and the like andadapted to be inserted in the usual nipple of the tube, the said nipplebeing suitably recessed partially therethrough to provide a valve seatinternally thereof and having the usual discharge passage therethrough,comprising a valve body member having a bore therethrough, and snuglybut'turnably fitting in the nipple recess with the said bore registeringwith the discharge passage through the nipple, an operating handleintegral with the valve body for turning thereof, and a retaining collarfixedly mounted in the nipple recess in engagement with the valve bodyto secure the latter permanently in the recess.

7. In combination, a collapsible container having a discharge openingand a valve for controlling the discharge of the contents of the tubethrough said discharge opening, which includes a neck on said containerhaving a bore therein at right angles to the discharge opening, a valvebody located in said bore, a passage in said valve body for registrywith the discharge opening, a handle for rotating said valve body havinga part integral with said valve body, means lying intermediate said partand the wall of said bore and being retained therein against axialtravel for preventing axial travel of the valve body.

8. In combination, a container having a discharge neck and'a dischargeorifice therein, and a valve for controlling the passage of contentswithin said container through the discharge opening, said neck having abore therein closed at one end for receiving the valve, said valveincluding a valve body having a passage therein for registry with thedischarge opening and communicating with the interior of the container,means for rotating said valve, means for limiting the axial travel ofthe valve body to maintain proper alignment between the passage in saidvalve body and the discharge opening when said valve body is rotated tobring said parts into alignment, and means for rotating said valve bodycomprising a handle, and means for preventing the rotation of saidhandle prior to the initial use of the construction.

ORTON B. STAUFFER.

